Valve apparatus



J. T. LEONARD 2,468,674

VALVE APPARATUS April 26, 1949.

Filed March 22, 1944 3 Sheets-511691 1 'z X l 20 www /02 f wir H z @in /06 6 April 26, 1949 J. T. LEONARD 2,468,674

VALVE APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheec 2 Filed March 22, 1944 April 26, 1949. 1. T. LEONARD VALVE APPARATUS Filed March 22, 194.4 5 sheets-sheet 5 mui i l fr l m,... g f mlilmr 90 /N VEA/TOR.- Jo HN 7'. L ONA/w Patented pr. 26, 1.949

VALVE APPARATUS `lohn T. Leonard, Evanston, Ill.

Application 1 claim. l

My invention relates generally to valve apparatus, and more particularly to a four-way valve mechanism forming part of a reversible progressive type of centralized lubricating system.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved lubricating system of the reversible progressive type having a simple and effective manually operable control valve for alternately connecting the lubricant pressure source tothe two ends of the conduit system leading to the reversible progressive measuring valves.

A further object is to provide an improved plug valve.

A further object is to provide an improved fourway valve incorporating as parts thereof a 1ubricant pressure indicator and a lubricant strainer.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a complete lubricating system for the lubrication of a plurality of bearings, utilizing reversible progressive measuring valves for apportioning the lubricant to the various bearings;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the four-way reversing valve;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the Valve shown in Fig. 2, with portions of the valve body broken away to show the pressure indicator and the strainer;

Fig, 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. valve in displaced position.

In the centralized lubricating system shown in Fig. l, there are illustrated a plurality of measuring valves lil representative of any suitable number connected in series by means of a conduit A, conduit sections i2, and a conduit B. Each of the measuring valves l0 is adapted to supply lubricant to bearings I4 through feeder tubes i6. These may be of any suitable construction, such as disclosed, for example, in my prior Patent No. 2,115,637.

In the operation or valves of this type, it is necessary alternately to supply lubricant under pressure to the conduits at the end of the series of the valves, such as the conduits A and B.

The novel valve mechanism disclosed herein for accomplishing this purpose is illustrated as comprising a body 2li having bosses 2l and 22 for connection respectively with the conduits A and 5, showing the March 22, 1944, Serial No. 527,573

B, having a threaded boss 23 for attachment of a pressure indicator 20.-, and having an inlet boss 25 within which is located a strainer chamber 26. The boss 2l is also tapped for making connection with a conduit D, which may be lcd to a suitable sump, or may be utilized for the lubrication of a bearing located in the vicinity of the four-way control valve.

The body 20 has a tapered bore 28 for the reception of a complementally tapered plug Valve 30. The plug valve 3! has a pair of passageways 32, 33 extending therethrough, the ends of these passageways being spaced at intervals. Thus, when the plug valve is in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, the passageway 32 connects a port 34 with a port 35, while the passageway 33 connects a port 35 with a port 3l. All of these ports are formed in the tapered bore 28. The port 34 communicates with a strainer chamber 26 formed in the boss 25, and as best shown in Fig. 3, the lubricant pressure is adapted to be supplied to this chamber 23 through a high pressure lubricant receiving tting 4G which is threaded in a bushing 42, while the latter bushing is threaded i in the end of the boss 25.

The bushing 42 has a passageway 43 extending therethrough and is provided with an inwardly extending portion 44 to which a stud 46 is threaded. A closely wound compression coil spring 48 has one end seating against the bushing 42 and its other end held by a su'table spring seat washer 50, the position of which may be adjusted by means oi a nut 52 threaded on the stud 46. By proper adjustment of the nut 52, the spacing of the turns of the coil spring 48 may be varied to any desired extent so that the spring forms a screen to prevent particles of above a predetermined size, from space `surrounding the spring.

Threaded on the boss 23 is a pressure indicator body 5S which has a bore 6@ for receiving annular V packing 62 through which a plunger 64 is slidable. The plunger has an indicating pin 66 threaded thereto, this pin being utilized to clamp a washer B3 against the end o1" the plunger 64. A loaded coil spring 'it is compressed between the washer 68 and an apertured cap 12, which is threaded in the body 58. rlhus, the preloaded spring normally holds the plunger 64 in the position in which it is shown in full lines in Fig. 3, but upon application of a suiliciently high lubricant pressure, is moved outwardly against the force of the spring 'lll to cause the pin B5 to project from the cap l2,

passing into the foreign matter as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, thereby to provide a visual and tactile signal showing completion of the lubricating operation, as will appear hereinafter.

The valve plug 30 has a recess 'I4 in its lower end for the reception of a hardened steel ball 16. A pair of complementary Wedge blocks 'i8 and 8|) are held in position by a stamped metal cage 82 so as to maintain the wedge block "18 in engagement with the ball 12. The wedge block 8D has a recess 84 for the reception of one end of a coil spring 36, the other end of which is seated against the inner end of a threaded adjustment plug 88.

upon the inner end of a set screw 96, which is The wedge block 8c rests.,

threaded in a. cap 92, the latter being threaded;v

in the lower end of this construction the spring 86 tends-continuously to urge the right (Fig. 4), and thereby to move the wedge block 18 upwardly, thus continuously applying an upwardly directed force to the valve plug 3|). Thefbore 28 has-a cylindrical enlargement `ss'fcr reception of the cage 82V and the latter has downwardly/ribelli; flanges 96 for holding the wedge blocksgl and 8u in position.

Inl-addition to the cross passageways. 32 and 33, the/plug 30 has a port 93=communicating with a verticalpassageway v|00 leading into the cylindrical chamber 94.

In-..,using the lubricating system, thecontrol valve body is bolted `to al portion of the machineframe, or to any other convenient, rigid support, by bolts passing through holes ina mounting bracket |02, withthe body casting 2t. pinnedto the upper end of the is :adapted to have its throwv limited by a pair of stop... pins |08 and |69. The tapered` bore 28 A handley |5361; is

In. using .the

sourceof lubricant under pressure, such y as a motor v.operated portable lubricant compressor, is

in.l the,v screen chamber v26 `will flow through. port.

34;;'andplugvalve passagewayiSZ vto the port 35, andhence through conduit A to. the series, of measuring; valves l0. After suicient lubricant has beensupplied to operate all ing ,valves, lubricant will plug valve'.passageway 33v to dcfwillibe. Iforced pin 66 to project providefthe operator with a signal showingthat al1.,of.th,e measuring valves I0 have been operated.r

It willbe understood that when lubricant under pressure is supplied through the conduit:;A,.

lubricant. will be discharged from each of the measuringvalves bearings.Y In order uringfival-ves IIJ, the operator swingsy the valve handle 06 .counterclockwise shown-.inFigs- 1 to 4. In the course ofthis movement, of the valveplug, the port 98Will passthe port 31 randthespring 'l0-:will force-theplunger inwardlmejecting lubricant throughthe port 98;` the chamber 94,qand, heneathrough. the conduit D to' the-idrain Aor,

an,dapassageway |00 .to

the bore 28. By virtue ofA which is formed integrally plug,valve3; and.

upperV end .of the` mayl have anrannular recessi therein forthe reception `of a Sealing-washer4 l l0. lubricating system a suitableof these measure`v lcommence vflowing throughtheconduit B and through port- 3.6 sand. the port 3l... As they pressure inthe conduit B builds up, the plungerV outwardly, thus. causing its l end from the cap .12 and. thereby.

.l0 to only one of its associated to supply lubricant to the otherbearings which are connected to the meas-f from `the position',

wedge block :80 toward .the

4 sump, or to an additional bearing requiring lubrication and which is connected to the conduit D.

Upon completion of the counterclockwise swinging movement of the handle |66, one end of the passageway 33 through the plug valve will be brought into registry with the port 3c so that lubricant may flow through this passageway to the port 36 and thence through the conduit B to `the, series of reversible progressive measuring valves Hl. These valves.. will thus be operated in succession to supply measured charges of lubricant, each to the bearing connected thereto, which was not previously lubricated. After all of the1measuring valves l0 have been operated, lubricant under pressure will ow through the conduit A and thence through port 35 and passageway 33 to the port 37| leading to the pressure indicator. As this flow continues and the pressure builds up, the plunger 6:2 and parts carried thereby will be forced outwardly again to cause the vpin* @tato project from. thel end of the'cap l2- and thereby indicate tov the operator that. a complete lubricating cyclehas; been performed'. and thatall Aofthe bearings. associatedv with the; measuring valves lt, have/been lubricated.

As .wear takesplace,A on the. tapered surface of, the valve plug 3U, as Well; as on,.the 'surface'.of; the bore. 28 which'is contactedfby .thel valve. plug' 3G, the spring Siizwill 'force the wedgeblockx: to the right (Fig.` 4), andthrough itsy inclined plane slidingl contact lwith the wedge blocka'l: will force the latterupwardly against theball. 16, and thereby cause the valve plug 30 to seatmorel tightly in its tapered bore 28 thanit would'otherf Wise have done. The inclinationof the cooperatingisurfaces of rthe wedge-.blocksland 'zis of. such small angle that downward pressureton1the: valve. plug` 30' tending to Amove-it away.y fromits conicalseating surface -28 is notv possible;I The.A spring pressed wedge blocksv thus serveat all timesv as a slack take-upmechanismI to hold the valve plugfin intimate contact with. its cooperating; seating surface of` the bore 28".y After.v enough; wearfhasy takenv place, such that the wedge blocks` 78 and 80 are no longer capable of exerting: a suflicient force on thevalve-plug 28 tomaintain it in rm engagement with the conical por-1 tion v,of-the bore 28, theslacktake-up` mechanism maybe, readiusted by pulling thewedge blocky Sil-ato the leftiFig. v4), anddat the same time' turning the adjusting screw 9D suicientlyto con-- tact with :the-.lower1,.surface of the wedge block 8G', so that the assembly will be reconditionedl for possible additional wear between the surfaces of the valve plug 30 andthe surfacey of the .valve v or metal alloy, differing-inv physical propertiesf fromthose ofthe valve. body 20, theseparts are,

ineifect, lappedtogetherf every time theivalvelis operated. Of course, no vabrasives are used after*y the manufacture yof the valve'has been completed,y but the frictionlbetween theseparts, as enhanced by,4 the.;multiplied force ofithe spring. 86,.lcausesf these partsvto burnish. andi polish oneanotherf so that a lubricant` pressure-tight seal is main-l` tained. The valveV assemblytherefore has a verylong useful life, and is kept tight against 'leakage' aroundA the valve. plug.,

While I -have shown and described a particular f mbodiment of my inventiongit will be apparent l that numerous variations land modifications thereof may be made @without departing from the underlying principles of Athe invention.; I there-,- fore desire, bythefollowing claim,.-to include.: within` the, scope of -my ,invention .all i such variaev tions and modifications by which substantially the results of my invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

I claim:

In a valve, the combination of a valve body having a tapering seat, a valve rotatable in said body and having a complementally tapered surface for engagement with said seat, and means to hold said valve in contact with said seat and to take up play resulting from wear of the engaging surfaces comprising an abutment supported by the valve body in spaced relation to the larger end of said valve, a ball axially engaging the larger end of said valve, a block having a face engaging said ball and an opposite face slightly inclined to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the valve, a wedge interposed between said block and the aforesaid abutment and contacting the inclined face of the block to apply pressure to the valve along the axis thereof, a cage around the block and engaging the wedge to guide the latter for rectilinear movement, and a spring mounted in said valve body and react- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,219,866 Prescott Mar. 20, 1917 1,349,449 Foster Aug. 10, 1920 1,807,701 Norton June 2, 1931 1,932,322 Nordstrom 1 Oct. 24, 1933 2,153,559 Hendricks Apr. 11, 1939 2,280,925 Nordstrom Apr. 28, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 194,642 Germany Jan. 28, 1908 

